Essential workshop tools

mac_man

I'm in the fortunate position of making a career change and am looking to do some part-time bike servicing when I move to Spain next month. There's a big local cycling community, but no specialist bike shop. Am going to start small as I need to build up my skill-set.

I bagged a decent Park Tools set off Ebay recently and now a good truing stand and dishing tool. The toolkit also includes a headset press, as well as a crown race setter, and a mech hanger straightner
Looking for suggestions as to anything obvious I might have missed... Plus recommendations for said kit.

I was thinking a torque wrench would be useful... So much carbon out there these days, but not sure what to buy. Also a bleed kit... there's a couple of universal kits that appear to be able to do the job, but can't find many reviews on them. Seems the main difference is just the various threaded attachments to connect the syringes to different brake systems.

Any and all suggestions/recommendations welcome.

Rightarmbad

Open up a park tool catalogue.
Go through every page and see if you need the tool displayed or if you can think of another way of doing it.

Really, if you have to ask the question, you are not in a position to legitimately charge full price for your time.
You will work on more shitters than gold so your tool collection will have to deal with all of the old standards as well as the new.
You will need parts washers and vices and other whack em tools to fix unmaintained censored bikes.
You will need removal tools for every bb standard out there as well as a plethora of cassette tools.
Expensive spoke tools and holders to move stuck nipples and special tools for campag stuff.
High quality hex wrenches and torque wrenches and various dies to press bb's, headsets and wheel bearings.
Good strong pedal wrenches and a billion cone wrenches.
Don't forget the newer torque type keys.
Various lubricants and locking compounds and carbon saws.
Could keep going on and on here.

Expect to spend a couple of grand at least to get stated.
Then there are all of the parts needed to have on hand.
Probably a minimum of 30 different bb's to start with........

mac_man

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19721095#p19721095]Rightarmbad[/url] wrote:

Open up a park tool catalogue.
Go through every page and see if you need the tool displayed or if you can think of another way of doing it.

Really, if you have to ask the question, you are not in a position to legitimately charge full price for your time.
You will work on more shitters than gold so your tool collection will have to deal with all of the old standards as well as the new.
You will need parts washers and vices and other whack em tools to fix unmaintained censored bikes.
You will need removal tools for every bb standard out there as well as a plethora of cassette tools.
Expensive spoke tools and holders to move stuck nipples and special tools for campag stuff.
High quality hex wrenches and torque wrenches and various dies to press bb's, headsets and wheel bearings.
Good strong pedal wrenches and a billion cone wrenches.
Don't forget the newer torque type keys.
Various lubricants and locking compounds and carbon saws.
Could keep going on and on here.

Expect to spend a couple of grand at least to get stated.
Then there are all of the parts needed to have on hand.
Probably a minimum of 30 different bb's to start with........

Thanks (I think?). The condescension and patronising tone I can do without. I guess you came out of the womb as a fully fledged know-it-all race mechanic. Where did I say I was going to set up a pro bike shop and charge full whack?

I'm in a position where I'll be semi retired with time on my hands and no bike shop within 40 miles. And with some spare cash left over from a house sale. So I figured I needed at least all the tools to fix 2 MTBs and 1 vintage road bike. And since there's a ton of people out here riding bikes, mostly newish MTBs and road bikes, as well as your aptly named censored , I figured there may be some interest in people getting their bikes fixed locally.

So it's going to be more of a hobby than full time business, either mates rates or as a favour and maybe in a year or twos time, if I'm actually any good and I can make some pocket money from it, then it's all good.

Parts are no problem as CRC and Wiggle ship for free to Spain. I have a fair chunk of the items you listed and would get specialist tools as and when needed. But longer term, things like facing tools and BB press tools would be on the list.

The kit I got is the PK66, at a very good price. But there's still basic stuff I know is missing... socket set, consumables, cables. The stuff that gets used every day. But if you want to help me spend my money... feel free.

cooldad

Spain, time off, sun. Sounds good.

I would just get a stash of cable outers (CRC sell Shimano SP41 by the meter - I buy 10m at a time for home0 and inner, plus some brake cables (for those of us who still have some old 'shitters'), and just worry about specific tools when the need arises.

Halfords sell some decent cheap tool kits in their, I think, Pro series or something. more than adequate for bike work.

Good luck.

mac_man

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19721163#p19721163]cooldad[/url] wrote:

Spain, time off, sun. Sounds good.

I would just get a stash of cable outers (CRC sell Shimano SP41 by the meter - I buy 10m at a time for home0 and inner, plus some brake cables (for those of us who still have some old 'shitters'), and just worry about specific tools when the need arises.

Halfords sell some decent cheap tool kits in their, I think, Pro series or something. more than adequate for bike work.

Good luck.

Thanks...

swod1

you've got the obvious item sorted out then a decent bike work stand to go a long with the tools?

just get the basic tools sorted first allen keys, pliers, spanners etc and then worry about if you need to get some specific tools as not everyone is going to have fancy bikes.

I've not bought a fancy tool kit but just gone along and then thought oh I need that tool when sorting out my own bikes.

step83

Torque wrench is something youll use a lot, youll want both a 1/4 and 3/8 with the bits to convert up or down with a set of Torque or hex keys either on a socket rail or an adapter to take the bits.

If you have a headset press id look into a headset remover as well (and a hammer)

Bar those an a decent workstand you shouldnt be in too bad a shape to start

mac_man

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19721317#p19721317]Step83[/url] wrote:

Torque wrench is something youll use a lot, youll want both a 1/4 and 3/8 with the bits to convert up or down with a set of Torque or hex keys either on a socket rail or an adapter to take the bits.

If you have a headset press id look into a headset remover as well (and a hammer)

Bar those an a decent workstand you shouldnt be in too bad a shape to start

Thanks Step83 & Swod1. Forgot to mention the set already has a headset remover and an FBH. Took out my first cup with it today.

Thanks for the advice on the socket sets. Any recommendations on brands to look for? I've read that some of the cheaper modles are not exactly accurate. Which will be an obvious false economy if I'm torquing up bolts on somebody's carbon dream mchine. But how much is good enough?

I have one of those 'Ebay special' workstands which I've had for a while. It's been fine so far but I guess if it gets hammered every day it's maybe not going to last like workshop quality stand.

Am planning on making a proper workshop area in the garage... with a bench, vice etc.

Chunkers1980

Personally I don't think you need a torque wrench - if you do up enough bolts with the same spanners and keys you, just - know.

me-109

With the consideration for people's carbon dreams perhaps you should consider liability insurance too? Personally I'm surprised that anyone that can afford a flash bike doesn't know how to maintain it.

step83

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19721351#p19721351]Chunkers1980[/url] wrote:

Personally I don't think you need a torque wrench - if you do up enough bolts with the same spanners and keys you, just - know.

Usually I'd agree but if its for a business its best to play safe on tolerances. Its bad damaging your own kit from over tightening worse damaging other peoples.

If you do want wrenches I would just go with a known brand I've a few from working on cars which used to get recalibrated every few months my 1/4th Teng was great but stupidly expensive. A Facom, Stanley etc should be fine you could even get pre set tools I know part and others have recently started doing them.

Main tools I use when I work on bikes are

3in1 hex key (triangular thingy)
T Keys (long allen keys with a handle)
Torx keys for brake bolts
Spanners 7-10mm mainly on Shimano brakes
Bike old metal tyre lever
Grease gun
Cloth, not a tool but you always need one
Workstand


Seem to be doing a lot of hub an brake servicing of late though.

davidradar

Definitely get a torque wrench! I'm fussy and would not take my bike to a mechanic that does not use one - thus I do everything on my own. I actually have my own (GIUSTAFORZA II 2-16 PRO). Unfortunately I find it difficult to find a good bike mechanic, especially when there are only 2 shops in town

mac_man

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19721360#p19721360]Me-109[/url] wrote:

With the consideration for people's carbon dreams perhaps you should consider liability insurance too? Personally I'm surprised that anyone that can afford a flash bike doesn't know how to maintain it.

LOL... by that logic Ferrari owners would be under the hood changing the plugs. ;-)

Personally I'm be of the opposite opinion... if you can afford to drop £6K or more on a bike the last thing you'd want to do is damage it by overtightening a bolt.

The liability insure is a good idea though... should business take off.

BigAl

To the OP, sounds like you have most stuff covered, personally I can take or leave a torque wrench and I don't imagine you'll see too much carbon stuff anyway. Probably best to just crack on, anything you're missing will become apparent pretty quickly. Good luck!

As for the point made above as to being surprised that people can't self maintain their bikes; I agree.

If you choose to get your 3/6/12 monthly service done at a shop then that's fine - it's your money. But I do believe that riders ought to know at least basic maintenance and fixes. Punctures, gear indexing, basic wheel trueing, on-the-go bodges, etc. Not least because these things don't go wrong in your shed but while you're out on your bike, in the cold and rain, 10 miles from help.

To take the car analogy, no I wouldn't expect anybody to change their plugs whilst on the A40. On the other hand, every motorist should be able to change a wheel or a headlamp bulb

(Do Ferraris have spare wheels? I shall get the butler to check on the morrow)

kinioo

1. Get a decent hammer;

2. Good Hi Fi system to play some music in the background;

3. Some 'nice' posters on the walls...barely-dressed women with spanners probably...etc.